Registering to vote for the EU Referendum on 23 June
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If you are not already on the electoral roll, you need to apply to register to vote by midnight on Tuesday 7 June to vote in the EU Referendum on 23 June.
You can apply online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote or by contacting the electoral services department at your local council.
What is the referendum about?
On 23 June there will be a referendum on the United Kingdom’s membership of the European Union. A referendum asks you to vote on a question. For this referendum the question is:
Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?
The two answers are:
Remain a member of the European Union
and
Leave the European Union
How can I vote?
You can use the tactile device
Your polling station will have a device that can be attached to the ballot paper. It has a window that can be lifted for each answer. To use the device you should:
• lift the selected window
• mark your preference
• close the window
• separate the template from the ballot paper
• fold and place the ballot paper in the ballot box
• return the device to the Presiding Officer
The polling station staff can explain how to use the device and read out the referendum question and the answers.
You can ask the Presiding Officer for help
The Presiding Officer is the person in charge of the polling station. They are independent, and you can ask them for help.
You can ask the Presiding Officer to read out the instructions on the ballot paper and the referendum question and the answers.
You can tell the Presiding Officer, in the privacy of the polling booth, how to mark the ballot paper on your behalf.
You can ask someone to come to the polling station with you
You can ask someone to come with you to the polling station to help you.
Your companion must be either a close relative (father, mother, brother, sister, spouse, civil partner, son or daughter – if they are aged 18 years or over) or a qualified elector. You should ask the permission of the Presiding Officer to be assisted by your companion.
Your companion is required by law to complete a simple declaration. The Presiding Officer must record your name and elector number, as well as your companion’s name and address.
You can use the large print resources
Your polling station will have a large-print version of the ballot paper on display. There will also be a large hand-held copy of the ballot paper, marked ‘sample’, both of which you can use as a reference whilst casting your vote.
You can vote by post or proxy
If you are unable to visit your polling station on the day of the referendum, you can vote by post or someone can cast your vote on your behalf.
Postal vote applications must include the elector’s signature. However, if you are unable to provide a signature, or a consistent signature, you can request that the requirement for a signature is waived. Your application must include the reason for the waiver request and the name and address of any person who has assisted you with completing the application.
The deadline to apply to vote by post is 5pm on 8 June
The deadline to apply to vote by proxy is 5pm on 15 June
To apply to vote by post or proxy you must be registered to vote. The deadline to apply to register is Tuesday 7 June.
Visit www.aboutmyvote.co.uk or call 0800 3 280 280 to find out more.
Key Information
Where is my polling station?
The address of your polling station will be written on your poll card. You can also contact the electoral services department at your local council to find out.
When are polling stations open?
Polling stations will be open on polling day (Thursday 23 June) from 7:00am to 10:00pm. You do not need to take your poll card with you to vote.
If you have a postal vote and have forgotten to return it, you can take your completed postal vote to any polling station in your voting area.
How do I find out more information about the EU Referendum?
For more information, please go to aboutmyvote.co.uk or call 0800 3 280 280.
What are the key dates?
The deadline to apply to register to vote is 7 June
The deadline to apply to vote by post is 5pm on 8 June
The deadline to apply to vote by proxy is 5pm on 15 June
Polling Day is 23 June, 7am to 10pm